E-Check and E-Commerce

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and media for processing and clearing a check are disclosed. Embodiments include hardware and/or software for generating an e-check in response to receipt of a paper check, by which a merchant performs the manual data entry for the merchant, the merchant&#39;s bank, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the purchaser&#39;s bank clearing procedures. The paper check is electronically scanned at the point of sale (POS) terminal to create a check object (the ‘e-check’) that contains the binary data of the check information, a scanned image of the paper check, and identification data from the purchaser. Then, the check object is submitted to the check writer&#39;s, or purchaser&#39;s bank, for automated clearing without having to process the physical document any further.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______,entitled “E-COMMERCE BY CHECK”, attorney docket number AUS920030905US1,filed on the same day, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein inits entirety for all purposes.

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______,entitled “E-COMMERCE TRANSACTION AGGREGATION AND PROCESSING”, attorneydocket number AUS920030904US1, filed on the same day, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of e-commerce. More particularly,the present invention relates to methods, systems, and media to processand clear checks via a check object, referred to as an “e-check”,generated at a point of sale (POS) terminal.

BACKGROUND

Current business processes for Point of Sale (POS) accept various formsof payment for merchandise such as checks, credit cards, debit cards, orcash. For example, a customer may purchase a product with a credit cardfrom a merchant at the merchant's store or electronically via themerchant's web site. The merchant will process the credit card payment,electronically communicating with the credit card company to verify thatthe credit card company is willing to pay the amount of currencydescribed by the merchant for the transaction. Once the transaction isauthorized, an approval code is provided to the merchant and themerchant completes the transaction by providing the customer with areceipt that includes the product and some description to identify theform of payment like the credit card utilized for payment.

Unlike credit card, debit card, and cash transactions, however,transactions in which the purchaser pays for merchandise by checkinvolve an additional delay in processing, which is referred to as a‘float’ period. The delay is disadvantageous for both the merchant andthe merchant's bank and involves duplicative efforts by the parties.More specifically, processing and clearing a check currently takes about36-72 hours from the time a check is written until it is actually paidout of the purchaser's account. One of the reasons for the delay is thatthe paper cheeks must be sent to a check clearinghouse like the FederalReserve Rank/Clearinghouse where the amount of the check is manuallyentered and printed on the bottom right edge of the check. Then, thecheck is sent to the bank of the purchaser where the check is sorted,scanned, recorded for the monthly statement, and the money is finallydeducted from the account. Thus, the purchaser gets the advantage of the36-72 hour ‘float’ period because the purchaser receives goods,services, cash, etc., while the actual money represented by the cheekremains in the purchaser's checking account, drawing interest.

The merchant's bank is disadvantaged because the merchant's bank willshow the balance of the check in the merchant's bank account for the‘float’ period. Further, the merchant is disadvantaged because themerchant will not know during the delay, possibly for several days,whether the check is actually good, i.e., whether the purchaser actuallyhas sufficient funds available for the transaction, and, even if thepurchaser does have the funds available, the funds that show in themerchant's account may be placed on hold by the merchant's bank untilthey are actually received or for some standard number of days to makesure that the funds are received before being available to the merchant.

Merchants who accept payment by check at the point of sale usually runthe check through the point-of-sale (POS) terminal in order to requestservice from the check clearinghouse and to print certain merchantinformation on the back of the check. In the case where the check isaccepted by the merchant, the current technology requires substantiallymanual data entry of the purchase amount into the POS terminal by thecashier; the purchaser's identification, such as a driver's licensenumber and sometimes telephone number by the cashier; and the merchant'saccount information for depositing the check in the merchant's account.

Once the check is accepted, the merchant collects the checks receivedthroughout a given period, usually a day, and deposits these checks atthe merchant's bank. Then, the bank and the check clearinghouse willprocess the check information as one of the steps in clearing the check.This is typically a manual process involving keying in and printing onthe check (using Magnetic Ink Character Recognition ‘MICR’ such as anE-13B font with 14 characters), the amount of the check, duplicating theefforts of the cashier.

After the merchant, merchant's bank, check clearinghouse, andpurchaser's bank process the check, the purchaser finally receives thecancelled check or a scanned image of the check. In situations whereinthe purchaser's bank supplies the purchaser with a scanned image of thecheck, the purchaser's bank generally provides the scanned image to thepurchaser as hardcopy or on the Internet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems identified above are in large part addressed by methods,systems, and media to process and clear a check. One embodiment providesa method for generating an check. The method generally includes scanninga cheek to create an image of the check in response to receiving a checkas payment for a transaction; entering an amount of currency representedby the cheek into a point of sale terminal; identifying checkinformation that describes a bank and a bank account, wherein the checkcomprises the check information; and generating a check object basedupon the image, the amount, and the check information.

Another embodiment provides a method for transacting with an e-check.The method generally includes generating the e-check based upon a check,to substitute for a check as payment for a transaction; transmitting thee-check to a bank, wherein the bank is identified by a routing number onthe check; and receiving a response to transmission of the e-check fromthe bank, the response to clear the check when sufficient funds areavailable for the transaction from an account associated with thee-check.

Some embodiments provide an apparatus for generating an e-check. Theapparatus contemplates an image scanner to create an image of a check inresponse to receiving the check as payment for a transaction; an inputdevice to input an amount of currency represented by the check; acharacter scanner to scan the check to identify cheek information thatdescribes a bank and a bank account; and an e-check generator togenerate a check object based upon the image, the amount, and the checkinformation.

A further embodiment provides a machine-accessible medium containinginstructions, which when executed by a machine, cause said machine toperform operations. The operations can involve scanning a check tocreate an image of the check in response to receiving a cheek as paymentfor a transaction; entering an amount of currency represented by thecheck into a point of sale terminal; identifying cheek information thatdescribes a bank and a bank account, wherein the check comprises thecheck information; and generating a check object based upon the image,the amount, and the check information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION Of THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description and upon reference to theaccompanying drawings in which like references may indicate similarelements;

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a system including a client computersystem, email servers, and recipients coupled via a LAN and/or WAN toprocess and clear a check;

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of an e-check, or electronic check object;

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a point of service (POS) terminal togenerate and process an e-check; and

FIG. 4 depicts an example of a flow chart to process and clear a check.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following is a detailed description of example embodiments of theinvention depicted in the accompanying drawings. The example embodimentsare in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention. However, theamount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipatedvariations of embodiments, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appendedclaims. The detailed descriptions below are designed to make suchembodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Generally speaking, methods, systems, and media for processing andclearing a check are contemplated. Embodiments include hardware and/orsoftware for generating an e-check in response to receipt of a papercheck, by which a merchant performs the manual data entry for themerchant, the merchant's bank, the Federal Reserve Bank, and thepurchaser's bank clearing procedures. The paper check is electronicallyscanned at the point of sale (POS) terminal to create a check object(the ‘e-check’) that contains the binary data of the check informationand a scanned image of the paper check. Then, the e-check is submittedto the check writer's, or purchaser's bank, for automated clearingwithout having to process the physical document any further.

More specifically, the cashier simply verifies that the check is for thecorrect amount and enters the check amount as is customarily done. Thecashier utilizes the POS terminal to scan the check to create anelectronic image, and creates a binary check object that includes, theprocessing information (bank name, routing info, check amount, checknumber, data, payee, the scanned check image, etc.). Thereafter, thee-check essentially takes the place of the paper check as the negotiableinstrument. The e-check is sent directly to the purchaser's bank forclearing; the amount of the check is immediately deducted from thepurchaser's account (or not, if there are insufficient funds), therebyeliminating the re-entry of the check information by the merchant'sbank, clearinghouse, and purchaser's bank.

If the check clears, then the merchant's account is credited, and anacknowledgement is returned to the merchant by the merchant's bank. Ifthe cheek is refused, the purchaser's bank notifies the merchant thatthe check has been refused. Thus, the merchant can tell immediately oralmost immediately whether a cheek is good, and the funds have beendeposited in the merchant's account, before releasing the goods,services, or cash.

In several embodiments, the paper check is returned to the purchaser bythe cashier at the POS and is imprinted with a “cleared” indication,allowing the paper check to serve as a legal document to verify proof ofpayment, in other embodiments, the check may be forwarded to thepurchaser's bank. Further embodiments are contemplated in which the usergenerates an e-check for purchasing merchandise or services from amerchant's web site on the Internet.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a system100 to process and clear a check. More specifically, system 100 mayinclude a purchaser 110, a merchant 120, a local area network and/orwide area network (LAN/WAN) 160, a Purchaser's bank 140, and amerchant's bank 150. For example, purchaser 110 may include a customerthat purchases a product(s) 125 from merchant 120 with a check 115. Inother embodiments, purchaser 110 may include a customer and a computerthat the customer use to purchase a product from merchant 120. In suchembodiments, purchaser 110 may transact with merchant 120 over theInternet, purchasing a product from the merchant via the merchant's website and using, an e-check instead of a paper check for payment.

Merchant 120 may include a seller and the seller's storefront. Merchant120 may include the product(s) 125 and a point of sale (POS) terminal130 such as a cash register. POS terminal 130 may be operated by acashier and may include a check scanner 132, a keypad 134, an e-checkgenerator 136, and an e-check transmitter 138. For instance, purchaser110 may find the product(s) 125 in the store and bring the product(s)125 to the cashier to check out. The cashier may operate the POSterminal to process the product(s) 125 and to process payment for theproduct(s) 125. Purchaser 110 may offer cheek 115 to the cashier aspayment as well as identification so the cashier can verify the identityof purchaser 110. The cashier uses keypad 134 to enter the amount fromcheck 115 into POS terminal 130. In further embodiments, POS terminalmay include optical character recognition logic coupled with checkscanner 132 to determine the amount written on check 115.

After the amount from check 115 is entered into POS terminal 130, checkscanner 132 scans check 115 to generate a check image and read therouting number, account number and check number off check 115. Forexample, check scanner 132 may include an optical imaging system togenerate a digital image from check 115 and a magnetic ink characterrecognition (MICR) system to read characters on checks inscribed withmagnetic inks. In particular, paper checks are typically printed withmagnetic inks to facilitate automated recording of the routing number,account number, and check number. If, for some reason, the check number,for instance, is not printed with a magnetic ink, the cashier mayrecognize the problem and enter the check number via keypad 134, or POSterminal 130 may utilize an optical character recognition system to readthe numbers from check 115.

E-check generator 136 couples with check scanner 132 and keypad 134 togenerate a check object, the e-check, based upon the informationgathered from the check and information about the merchant's bank 150.For instance, POS terminal 130 may maintain or have access to data suchas the routing number and account number for a merchant's account 152associated with merchant 120 at merchant's bank 150. In someembodiments, the cashier may also have the ability to enter themerchant's banking information into POS terminal 130, e.g., via keypad134 or another input device.

Considering FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, there is shown an examplee-check 200. E-check 200 may include a digital file that includes thesame or similar data as data included on a paper check. E-check 200 mayinclude, e.g., payer 210 and payee 230. Payer 210 includes a routingnumber 212 that identifies the purchaser's bank 140, an account number214 that identifies the purchaser's account 144 at the purchaser's bank140 from which funds in an amount 248 may be withdrawn, a check number216, the amount 218, and a check image 220. Routing number 212 mayinclude an electronic address, like an IP address 240 and a port number242, determined from, e.g., a routing number table, to describe theelectronic address for the purchaser's bank that is utilized forclearing checks. Further, check image 220 may include an image in asstandard digital format such as Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG),Graphics Interchange Format (GIF), Tagged Image File Format (TIFF),Portable Network Graphics (PNG), or other graphics format. Thus, uponreceipt and processing of e-check 200, purchaser's bank 140 may linkcheck image 220 to a transaction described in an e-statement availablefor purchaser's account 144.

In further embodiments, payer 210 may include additional informationlike payer identification 222 to identify purchaser 110 for securitysuch as the state and driver's license number of purchaser 110, the nameof purchaser 110, and/or other identifying information. For instance,when purchaser 110 offers check 115 to the cashier, the cashier mayrequest purchaser's driver license. Upon receiving the driver s license,the cashier may swipe a magnetic strip of the driver's license through amagnetic stripe reader, possibly built into POS terminal 130, to includethe information in e-check 200. In some of these embodiments, theinformation can then be used to verify e-check transactions bypurchaser's bank 140. In still further embodiments, purchaser 110 mayprovide a password or personal identification number (PIN).

Payee 230 may include information to identify the account to receivefunds transferred from purchaser's account 140, or, in other words,merchant's account 152 from FIG. 1. Payee 230 may include data such asthe merchant's routing number 232 and account number 234, as well as adescription of list of goods or services 236 that are being exchangedfor the funds represented by amount 218 from check 115. Similarly topayer 210, routing number 232 may include IP address 250 and port number252 to identify the electronics address associated with merchant's bank150 that is designed for receiving funds electronically. Merchant's bank150 may even receive a copy of check image 220 for a transaction recordfor merchant's bank 150 and/or merchant 120. In other embodiments,e-check 200 may only include the name of the payee 230, like a papercheck.

E-check transmitter 138 may transmit the e-check to purchaser's bank 140to request payment. In many embodiments, POS terminal 130 may transmitthe e-cheek directly to purchaser's bank 140 for payment via LAN/WAN 160and purchaser's bank 140 may transmit, e.g., by electronic fundstransfer (EFT), the funds to merchant's account 152 via LAN/WAN 160. Infurther embodiments, POS terminal 130 may transmit the e-check tomerchant's bank 150 and merchant's bank 150 may submit the e-check topurchaser's bank 140 for payment. For example, upon generation at ane-check for check 115, e-check transmitter 138 may associate anelectronic address such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address with thee-check. In particular, e-check transmitter 138 may identify an IPaddress fur purchaser's bank 140 based upon a payer's routing numbersuch as routing number 212 and transmit the c-check to purchaser's bank140 via LAN/WAN 160.

LAN/WAN 160 is a network connection to couple merchant 120 withpurchaser's bank 140 to request payment of an e-check to merchant's bank150 and to couple purchaser's bank 140 with merchant's bank 150 totransmit the payment based upon the e-check. In some embodiments,LAN/WAN 160 may include a network within a store or within a bankcoupled via Ethernet, optical media like OptiConnect, or the like. Inseveral embodiments, LAN/WAN 160 also couples with the Internet via acable modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL), a T1 line, a T3 line, orthe like. In further embodiments, LAN/WAN 160 may include a network oftemporary connections such as connections via a telephone system.

Purchaser's bank 140 may include a bank or a computer system for a bankto process debits from purchaser's account 144. In particular,purchaser's bank 140 may include e-check clearer 142 and purchaser'saccount 144. Upon receiving an e-check from merchant 120 based upon totransaction involving check 115, e-cheek clearer 142 may verify theaccount number of purchaser's account 144 and compare the amount 218 tothe balance of purchaser's account 144 to determine whether thetransaction should be approved. In further embodiments, the check numbermay be compared with the check number of previously processed checks toverify that the same check 115 is not being processed again. In oneembodiment, when additional information such as purchaser's driverlicense number, name, PIN and/or other identifying information isincluded in the e-check 200, e-check clearer 142 may compare thatinformation with information associated with purchaser's account 144 toconfirm authorization to access funds in the account.

Once e-check clearer 142 determines that the finds are available inpurchaser's account 144, e-check clearer 142 may transmit a confirmationto POS terminal 130 and transfer the funds to merchant's account 152 viaLAN/WAN 160. In other embodiments, purchaser's bank 140 may transfer thefunds to merchant's account 152 and merchant's bank 150 may confirm thereceipt of the funds with POS terminal 130.

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a POS terminal 300 to generate andprocess an e-check transaction. POS terminal 300 includes hardware andsoftware adapted to generate the e-check based upon receipt of a cheek305 and to transmit the e-check to a bank for payment based upon themuting number inscribed on check 305. POS terminal 300 may be any typeof processor-based device like a desktop computer, a laptop, a PDA, orthe like that can be adapted to generate and transmit an e-check. Forexample, POS terminal 300 may comprise a processor-based cash registerat a department store. The cashier that operates the cash register mayreceive check 305 as payment for some merchandise and insert check 305into POS terminal 300. Upon generating an e-check, POS terminal 300 maylocate an IP address associated with the routing number of thepurchaser's account and interact with the purchaser's bank via bankApplication Program Interface (API) 364 to clear check 305. In otherembodiments, POS terminal may interface with a second computer systemthat will facilitate clearance of check 305 by utilizing thecorresponding e-check.

POS terminal 300 may include an image scanner 310, a character scanner320, an input device 330, a check printer 340, an e-check generator 350,and a transmitter/receiver 360. Image scanner 310 may include opticalsensors to create an electronic representation from check 305 thatincluded in an e-cheek. The electronic representation may include animage file and may be transmitted to e-check generator 350.

Character scantier 320 may determine the rowing number, account numberand, possibly, the check number on check 305. More specifically,character scanner 320 may include magnetic sensors coupled with a MICR322 to read magnetic ink used to print the routing number, accountnumber, and check number on the check 305. In some embodiments,character scanner 320 may include logic that couples with the opticalsensors of image scanner 310 such as optical character recognition 324to determine the, outing number, account number, and check number on thecheck 305. In such embodiments, optical character recognition 324 mayalso read the numbers from the check to determine the amount of currencyrepresented by check 305.

Input device 330 may include a keypad and/or voice recognition logic toallow the cashier to enter the amount of currency check 305 representsand, in some embodiments, the check number, driver's license number,and/or other data. In further embodiments, input device 330 may includea private keypad that an be operated by the purchaser to privately entera PIN and/or password to facilitate identification of the purchaser bythe purchaser's bank.

Check printer 340 may be integral to a system including image scanner310 and character scanner 320 to deface the check 305 or print a recordof the transaction on the check 305. For example, upon recording thedata from the check, as well as the check image in an e-check, POSterminal 300 may deface check 305 so check 305 is no longer negotiable.The e-check then effectively or actually becomes the negotiableinstrument, taking over the role from check 305.

E-check generator 350 may aggregate information from check 305 and themerchant to create a check object. In many embodiments, the check objectmay be assigned a unique identification number or code, which is similarto a check number in that it is used to distinguish between e-checks.The unique number or code may be substantially unalterable withoutcorrupting the content of the check object and may be accessible by thepurchaser's bank to determine whether the bank receives the e-check morethan once. In such embodiments, the purchaser's bank may deny atransaction subsequently received with the same identification number orcode. For example, the identification code may be based upon informationcontained within the e-check, a number associated with the date of thetransaction.

Transmitter/receiver 60 may determine an electronic address to which tosend the e-check based upon the routing number associated with thee-check and, in one embodiment, to interact with the purchaser's bank toprocess the transaction and determine whether the e-check is cleared.For instance, after the e-check is generated, transmitter/receiver 360may look up the electronic address with which to communicate with thepurchaser's bank via routing number table 362. Then, bank API 364 may beemployed to interact with the bank. Bank API 364 may, for example,include one or more interfaces or rules for interfacing with a bank'scomputer system. Once establishing communication with the purchaser'sbank, bank API can transmit the e-check to the bank and await clearanceor denial of the transaction. In other embodiments, bank API 364 maytransmit it request to clear the e-check along with the e-check to thepurchaser's bank. Bank API 364 may then await a response to the request.In one embodiment, fur example, bank API 364 transmits a request totransfer funds based upon the e-check to the purchaser's bank andassigns a unique identification to the transaction. The purchaser's bankclears the e-check and transfers the funds to the merchant's bank. Themerchant's bank then transmits a receipt of funds confirmationassociated with the unique transaction identification to POS terminal300, confirming completion of the transaction to bank API 364. If thee-check did not clear, on the other hand, the purchaser's bank maytransmit a reply to the funds transfer request back to bank API 364possibly via the merchant's bank.

Referring not to FIG. 4, there is shown an example of a flow chart 400for processing and clearing a check. Flow chart 400 begins upon receiptof a paper check (element 410) for payment for a transaction between apurchaser and a merchant, such as purchaser 110 and merchant 120 inFIG. 1. In particular, the purchaser may write out a check from acheckbook, sign the check and hand the check to a cashier as payment forservices, goods, and/or cash. The cashier may operate a POS terminal andenter the amount that the check is written out for into the POS terminal(element 415).

Once the cashier receives payment by check and verifies that the amountis correct, i.e. is consistent with the amount shown on the POSterminal, the check is scanned and a check object (e-check) is createdelectronically at the POS terminal. The POS terminal may be enhanced toallow scanning an image of the check in addition to reading the encoded(MICR) information on the check, identifying the check in (element 420).The POS terminal software is also enhanced to generate an electroniccheck object, or e-check (element 425), that contains as an attachmentthe true image copy of the check, and the data entered by the cashier.Thus, the physical check document does not need to be further processedby other parties and may be defaced and returned to the purchaser orforwarded to the purchaser's bank.

In some embodiments, the physical check may be held the merchant for apredetermined period of time, or may be sent to the merchant's bank forrouting to the purchaser's bank. If the check is to be returned to thepurchaser, the amount of the check can be retrieved from the e-check andminted on, the check. The ink utilized to the print the amount on thecheck, wouldn't have to be MICR at this point because the amount is onlyprinted on the paper check to let the purchaser compare the handwrittenamount with the amount actually debited from the purchaser's account.Optionally, the amount of the check in the check object may be added tothe scanned cheek image so that a hard copy of the image can be used asproof of payment.

The e-cheek, including the image attachment, can be submitted forinstant clearing, or may be accumulated with the merchant's bankdeposits for the day and transmitted to the purchaser's bank (element430) at an appropriate time. In particular, the e-check is sentelectronically, immediately to the purchaser's bank, using the bank'srouting number scanned from the paper check and included in the e-check.The e-check may contain the complete transaction information such as thepayee, amount, date, the purpose of the check such as a list ordescription of goods and/or services, etc. This information is obtainedautomatically, by the POS terminal. The purchaser's information is alsoincluded in the e-check by reading the information encoded on the checksuch as the name, address, check number, purchaser's bank routinginformation, etc.

After the e-check is transmitted to the purchaser's bank, thepurchaser's bank either clears the check or denies payment (element 435)for reasons such as insufficient funds (NSF), stopped payment, etc. Thisinformation is routed back to the merchant if NSF or other denial,causing the cashier to request another form of payment from thepurchaser or to refuse the transaction (element 445). On the other hand,the information is routed to the merchant's bank for credit to themerchant's account if the e-check is cleared (element 437).

The merchants bank acknowledges the credit to the merchant's account bynotifying the cashier at the POS terminal and the cashier completes thetransaction (element 440) by providing the merchandise, services, and/orcash to the purchaser. The purchaser's account may then be immediatelydebited and merchant's account is immediately credited. Thus, themerchant may know immediately whether the check is good, cleared, andthe funds have been deposited in the merchant's account, beforereleasing the merchandise, services or cash. In one embodiment, when apaper check is not returned to the purchaser upon clearance, themerchant later sends the paper check along with other paper checks tothe merchant's bank where the cheeks are sorted and sent to the properbanks.

One embodiment of the invention is implemented as a program product foruse with a computer system such as, for example, the system 100 shown inFIG. 1. The program(s) of the program product defines functions of theembodiment (including the methods described herein) and can be containedon a variety of signal-hewing media. Illustrative signal-bearing mediainclude, but are not limited to: (i) information permanently stored onnon-writable storage media (e.g., read-only memory devices within acomputer such as CD-ROM disks readable by a CD-ROM drive); (ii)alterable information stored on writable storage media (e.g., hard-diskdrive or floppy disk within a diskette drive); and (iii) informationconveyed to a computer by a communications medium, such as through acomputer or telephone network, including wireless communications. Thelatter embodiment specifically includes information downloaded from theInternet and other networks. Such signal-bearing media, when carryingcomputer-readable instructions that direct the functions of the presentinvention, represent embodiments of the present invention.

In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of theinvention, may be part of an operating system or a specific application,component, program, module, object, or sequence of instructions. Thecomputer program of the present invention typically is comprised of amultitude of instructions that will be translated by the native computerinto a machine-readable format and hence executable instructions. Also,programs are comprised of variables and data structures that eitherreside locally to the program or are found in memory or on storagedevices. In addition, various programs described hereinafter may beidentified based upon the application for which they are implemented ina specific embodiment of the invention. However, it should beappreciated that any particular program nomenclature that follows isused merely for convenience, and thus the invention should not belimited to use solely in any specific application identified and orimplied by such nomenclature.

It will be as parent to those skilled in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure that the present invention contemplates methods,systems, and media to process and clear a cheek. It is understood thatthe form of the invention shown and described in the detaileddescription and the drawings are to be taken merely as examples. It isintended that the following, claims be interpreted broadly to embraceall the variations of the example embodiments disclosed.

1. A method for generating an e-check, the method comprising: scanning acheck to create an image of the check in response to receiving a checkas payment for a transaction; entering an amount of currency representedby the check into a point of sale terminal; identifying checkinformation that describes a bank and a bank account, wherein the checkcomprises the check information; and generating a negotiable instrument,wherein the negotiable instrument comprises a check object based uponthe image, the amount, and the check information, wherein further thecheck object includes the image.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising printing the amount on the check.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein scanning the check comprises scanning the check at the point ofsale terminal.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein entering the amountcomprises communicating the amount represented by the check to the pointof sale terminal.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying thecheck information comprises determining a routing number, an accountnumber, and a check number.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein generatingthe check object comprises creating the check object with at least theimage, the routing number, the account number, and the amount.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein generating the check object comprisescreating the check object with data, wherein the data is to verify anidentification of a check writer.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinidentifying the check information comprises implementing magnetic inkcharacter recognition to read the check information from the check.
 9. Amethod for transacting with an e-check, the method comprising:generating the e-check based upon an image of a check, to substitute fora check as payment for a transaction wherein the e-check includes theimage; transmitting the e-check to a bank, wherein the back isidentified by a routing number on the check; and receiving a response totransmission of the e-check from the bank, the response to clear thecheck when sufficient funds are available for the transaction from anaccount associated with the e-check.
 10. The method of claim 9, whereingenerating the e-check comprises generating the e-cheek at the point ofsale terminal.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting thee-check comprises identifying an electronic address using the routingnumber.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronic address is anInternet protocol address.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein theelectronic address contains a port number.
 14. The method of claim 9,wherein transmitting the e-check comprises transmitting a request totransfer an amount associated with the e-check to an account associatedwith a merchant.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving theresponse comprises receiving an indication that the amount is creditedto the account associated with the merchant.
 16. The method of claim 14,wherein receiving the response comprises receiving a denial for therequest to transfer the amount.
 17. An apparatus for generating ane-check, the apparatus comprising: an image scanner to create an imageof a check in response to receiving the check as payment for atransaction; an input device to input an amount of currency representedby the check; a character scanner to scan the check to identify checkinformation that describes a bank and a bank account; and an e-checkgenerator to generate a negotiable instrument, wherein the negotiableinstrument a check object based upon the image, the amount, and thecheck information wherein further the check object includes the image.18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a printer to print theamount on the check as a receipt for the customer.
 19. The apparatus ofclaim 17, wherein the image scanner s adapted to scan the check at apoint of sale.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17, wire the input devicecomprises a keypad to type the amount represented by the check.
 21. Theapparatus of claim 17, wherein the character scanner comprises magneticink character recognition to determine a routing number associated withthe bank, an account number associated with the bank account, and acheck number associated with the check.
 22. The apparatus of claim 17,wherein the e-check generator is adapted to create the check object withat least the image, the routing number, the account number, and theamount.
 23. A machine-accessible medium containing instructions, whichwhen executed by a machine, cause said machine to perform operations,comprising: scanning a check to create an image of the check in responseto receiving a check as payment for a transaction; entering an amount ofcurrency represented by the check into a point of sale terminal;identifying check information that describes a bank and a bank account,wherein the check comprises the check information; and generating anegotiable instrument, wherein the negotiable instrument comprises acheck object based upon the image, the amount, and the checkinformation, wherein the check object includes the image.
 24. Themachine-accessible medium of claim 23 wherein the operations furthercomprise printing the amount on the check.
 25. The machine-accessiblemedium of claim 23, wherein scanning the check comprises scanning thecheck at a point of sale terminal.
 26. The machine-accessible medium ofclaim 23, wherein entering the amount on the check comprisescommunicating the amount represented by the check to the point of saleterminal.
 27. The machine-accessible medium of claim 23, whereinidentifying the check information comprises determining a routingnumber, an account number, and a check number.
 28. Themachine-accessible medium of claim 27, wherein generating the checkobject comprises creating the check object with at least the image, therouting number, the account number, and the amount.
 29. Themachine-accessible medium of claim 23, wherein identifying the checkinformation comprises implementing magnetic ink character recognition toread the check information.
 30. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising receiving, via the point of sale terminal, a personalidentification number (PIN) and a driver license number; wherein thescanning comprises scanning at the point of sale terminal; whereinfurther the image of the check is in a Joint Photographic Experts Group(JPEG) format; wherein further the identifying check informationcomprises reading, via a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR)system, a routing number, the bank account, and a check number; whereinthe check object that includes the routing number, the account number,the check number, and an e-check identification number; wherein furtherthe e-check identification number is to distinguish the e-check fromother e-checks.